New at Thermidor: The Poetics

I have a new post over at Thermidor Magazine, a review of the Poetics, by Aristotle. It’s not really necessary to explain his explanation on what the different literary genres are and how they work, so I also discuss why it’s worthwhile to spend time thinking seriously about literature. In a way it’s a follow-up to last year’s “Why Do You Not Study the Odes?”

4 Comments

I’m not really a stalker, just a methodological reader. You are unapologetic about liking anime, and have pretty good taste in literature. You convinced me to spend some more time with Ezra Pound, though I would not go so far as to say that he is the best since Shakespeare.

I would argue that Texhnolyze was not a misstep and that Last Exile was better when I was 18.

My tastes in anime run more to 70’s -80’s war and mecha, but I don’t begrudge you Lain and Bebop.

To your list of literary recommendations I would add either Green Knight or Song of Roland, Chaucer or Boccaccio and Tasso’s Liberation of Jerusalem or Ariosto’s Orlando Furioso.

I found you through Thermidor, linked in one of the reactionary roundups of recent interesting articles.

I can also sympathise with bibliophilia. I don’t actually have wall space free anywhere. It started with science fiction and fantasy, however the realisation that my university education was a waste, that my understanding of history was deplorable and that I had no proper grounding in literature pushed me to read all the classics by buying and reading them methodologically.

First, I appreciate the kind words. My “stalker” joke on Twitter was tongue-in-cheek; I was just surprised to see so many old posts suddenly getting traffic!

All the recommended books you mention are ones I’ve been meaning to get to, especially Chaucer (whom I’ve only read excerpts from) and Boccaccio. I was tempted to just add Chaucer to the list anyway, but only wanted to include works that I’ve read in full.

I have had multiple people whose opinions I trust tell me I should give Texhnolyze another shot, it’s just a matter of finding the time. As for 70s-80s anime, I have made a few forays into that era, but not many. The first Gundam movie trilogy, Fist of the North Star, Creamy Mami, Ghibli-related stuff… not much else. I love animation in large part because I love spectacle, and most anime, even today but especially from decades ago, just didn’t have the budget for great spectacle.